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The Advocate Newsletter

As we transition from the warmth of summer to the crisp embrace of fall, we hope this season brings a sense of renewal and reflection to you and your loved ones. While the seasons may change, our mission at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County remains steadfast—ensuring that every child in our community has the opportunity to feel safe, supported, and heard. This month, we are excited to share updates, stories of impact, and upcoming events that highlight the progress we continue to make together in providing healing and hope. Thank you for standing with us in this vital work.

Welcome Back! - In This Issue

We hope that you’re enjoying a wonderful summer, staying cool amid the rising temperatures. As the sun shines brightly, we’re reminded that while seasons change, our mission remains steadfast. Even though it is summer, our work doesn’t stop. We have been hard at work providing essential services to children and families in our community.

In this edition of our newsletter, we are excited to share several important updates and highlights:

  • Update from the Executive Director: Hear directly from our Executive Director about the latest developments and future plans for the Children’s Advocacy Center.

  • CAC Board of Directors Spotlight: Get to know the dedicated individuals who steer our organization towards success.

  • PSANE Program Expansion to Three Rivers Medical Center: Learn about the expansion of our Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (PSANE) program to Three Rivers Medical Center, increasing our reach and impact.

  • Impact Data Update: Review our comprehensive data on the services provided and the impact made during the fiscal year from July 2023 to June 2024.

  • Upcoming Trainings: Discover the training opportunities available, including our upcoming Darkness to Light session.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our mission. Together, we are making a significant difference in the lives of children and families in Jackson County. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and stay tuned for more exciting updates!

Executive Director

Picture of Executive Director Tammi Pitzen

"Be the change you want to see!"

Continuing The Vision:

Dear Community Members, 

As the Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County, I am able to witness a lot of really amazing and generous acts. It is these acts of generosity that help remind me of the infinite good that exists in this world when it is really easy to see the overwhelming darkness.

When we think about child abuse, it is easy to get lost in the overwhelming darkness but there are so many remarkable stories of regular people trying to shine light to chase away the shadows. In June, it was my honor to accept a Community 101 grant from St Marys High School. This grant will help to provide evidence-based trauma assessment to children and youth who have experienced abuse in our community. It was amazing to sit in a room with these students who took careful consideration of the applications they received and to watch as they award them to organizations that are helping those most vulnerable citizens in our community. I am quite sure my heart grew while sitting in that room watching their excitement as they awarded their grants. Our youth are working hard to create a better tomorrow for our community. Thank you, St. Mary’s. We are proud to partner with you to help bring healing and recovery to the youth in our community who experience child abuse.

Another bright shining light was created by Medford Food CoOp. Thank you for your fundraising on our behalf during May! We were so grateful to have had the opportunity to set up an information table and to have the opportunity to share with your customers about the services provided by the CAC to youth in our community. We are appreciative of the generous investment you and your customers made to provide healing interventions to children hurting in our community.

Child abuse is a community problem that demands a community response! Thank you St. Marys and Medford Food CoOp for being part of the response in Jackson County!

As we move into the new fiscal year at the end of June, we have many exciting things to look forward to at the CAC of Jackson County. We will be undergoing a process to create a new strategic plan for the next five to ten years. This planning process will help to identify our next area of growth and program expansion. We are excited to enhance the services that we provide to youth who have experienced the trauma of abuse and their non-offending caregivers.

Part of our expansion will be planning for the expansion of our campus. In May of 2022, we purchased a building adjacent to our campus. In May of 2023, we demolished that building. Now, there is a clean slate waiting for a beautiful new expansion to better serve our community. Stay tuned! There will be more to come on this expansion in the coming months!

Do you feel passionate about helping children to heal after experiencing abuse? Do you want to join the team at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County? We have an opening for a therapist who would be working with youth who have experienced abuse. If you are interested, please contact Rebekah Smith at 541-734-5437. If you are interested in volunteering at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Jackson County, please contact Azalea Lusch, our Outreach and Communications Manager at 541-734-5437 or alusch@cacjc.org

In gratitude, 

Tammi Pitzen,

CACJC Executive Director